In Person or In Package: How are you stocking your tank?

[AlyciaMarie]

It's 2024, and our community is constantly changing and innovating. With that change and innovation come various ways to get your hands on some beautiful specimens. No matter how you acquire your new wet pets, there are pros and cons. What do you prefer?

How are you stocking your tank? What are the pros and cons of doing it that way?

Photo credit: dani5

 

[Gumbies R Us]

We mostly due online for our needs, sometimes we shop at our lfs.

 

[Narideth]

I prefer to purchase in person - I had a wonderful time at Aquashella for example - but I have a few LFS in my area that stock corals so if I'm in a buying mood I'll try there first.

I have also hit the auctions via ebay and purchased directly from websites for some things. I got scammed once with a photo that was heavily doctored but most of my online purchases have been successful.

 

[Gman83]

I voted a little of everything. In a smaller town we only have petco locally, which is hit or miss, so I buy a lot online. About an hour away are some good lfs, so when I'm in KC I try to stop by. I do check fb occasionally for local stuff from fellow Reefers but I haven't bought anything

 

[Jasongtr]

All our fish are from our LFS, corals mostly in person and once online, but we don't have many at the moment so that will be a bit of both moving forward, equipment nearly always online

 

[apb03]

I buy almost all of my livestock from my LFS. I'm fortunate that I live very close to Candy Corals and so I have no need to ship anything regardless of the rarity of the coral or fish.

I think the less you ship the better, but not all of us can rely on an lfs.

 

[56longroof]

I plan on stocking my tank with in person visits to semi local [2 hour drive]pet stores and online vendors. My intention is to buy quarantined fish online with corals and inverts mostly purchased in person.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I prefer to purchase in person - I had a wonderful time at Aquashella for example - but I have a few LFS in my area that stock corals so if I'm in a buying mood I'll try there first.

I have also hit the auctions via ebay and purchased directly from websites for some things. I got scammed once with a photo that was heavily doctored but most of my online purchases have been successful.

Did you grab anything at aquashella this year?

 

[Narideth]

Did you grab anything at aquashella this year?

Alas I didn't go this year - I went last November. I did get many things there, including an awesomely priced scoly, a pair of clams, and a variety of zoas, acans, hammers and a few nice SPS pieces.

Don't ask how they all fared, the answer is grim in some instances

 

[steveschuerger]

About half my fish are online bought and the others have purchased at PetCo. Corals are mostly online purchases but a few are from in person purchases as well as a few that were given to me by friends.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Alas I didn't go this year - I went last November. I did get many things there, including an awesomely priced scoly, a pair of clams, and a variety of zoas, acans, hammers and a few nice SPS pieces.

Don't ask how they all fared, the answer is grim in some instances

Happens to all of us! At least you were able to get a lot, haha.

 

[VintageReefer]

I would say 95%’of my corals and fish are online. I make online coral purchases every 2-4 weeks

I got most my fish over the course of 2 orders from @DetroitReefClub
I also got fish from petco and one from a LFS. Out of all three fish sources which was the worse experience…the LFS

 

[shakacuz]

i've purchased fish from my LFS, petco, live aquaria, and reefstorepro. had the most success with fish from LFS/petco. shipping nowadays is abysmal although some vendors ship with great quality.

 

[MnFish1]

I order equipment from BRS, though many of our local LFS have their branded products in their store for the same price. As far as livestock, CUC - online. Coral and fish I buy exclusively from an LFS after a couple disasters buying from a pre-quarantined vendor (they must not have been doing a great job). Note - this was not from @Dr. Reef). The LFS I use quarantines all of their fish in a separate quarantine area. Additionally, I only buy fish that are in a tank containing invertebrates - so that I can be sure that there won't be major issues with salinity, or copper. Lastly, I ask the store to keep the fish an additional 2-3 weeks so I can verify no issues with disease, feeding, etc.

I have had fish/coral shipped when it was -30F and >100F - resulting in poor survival during transit - (Despite asking to delay the shipment until the weather was predicted to be better 1-2 days later). Then there are shipping delays.

 

[Reefer Matt]

I prefer in person, but no stores in my county, so I gotta drive a while to go to one. But I have ordered a lot online as well.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

surprised to see that more people aren't meeting on fb market, here, other nearby hobbyists. Corals, I am covered by local hobbyists that I've met that are nearby through FB marketplace. Fish, I will travel to a store. Luckily TSM aquatics is in my state so I have to take a trip to see what fish they got.

 

[fishyjoes]

I buy fish, crabs, and snails at LFS because I never need very many at a time (I have a small tank) so getting them shipped in would add too much for shipping.

When I buy corals I get several at a time and order them online so the shipping cost is relatively less important. My local shops don't have a large selection of corals and the price locally is often more than online + shipping even when they have what I want.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

I shop everywhere! LOL I do tend to find good sources and use those same sources depending on what I need. However, I have found the benefits to purchasing from trusted online sources to be just as reliable (and at times more so) compared to buying local.

 

[Rubymoon286]

I use Dr. Reef these days since I don't have room for a fish QT. I've been really happy with their exceptional service, and only had one issue which was immediately resolved.

 

[nano reef]

I mostly buy on ebay and online vendors. problem with ebay is I get way to carried away and cant miss a good deal. I have over 25 corals coming in from cornbred from ebay and about the same from aquasd on ebay and website ! I have been aloud to stay through their auctions for 4 months now because of a problem with both of the vendors! I am frankly worried and going to try to separate in several smaller orders spaced apart. I also have 3 tanks but still way to much! Most I plan to grow out in frag tank!